←back to thread

311 points todsacerdoti | 3 comments | | HN request time: 0.407s | source
Show context
wpollock ◴[] No.46235391[source]
If you didn't already know, what do you think a tool called "emacs" does?
replies(9): >>46235570 #>>46235591 #>>46235597 #>>46235599 #>>46235627 #>>46235628 #>>46235650 #>>46235698 #>>46239342 #
9rx ◴[] No.46235698[source]
If you didn't already know, what do you think a tool called a "combine" does?

Combine things? Nope. Its purpose is to separate things...

Its not just the software industry.

replies(3): >>46235765 #>>46235786 #>>46236161 #
1. bigstrat2003 ◴[] No.46236161[source]
Technically it's a "combine harvester" as far as I know, which is more intuitive. Though in practice everyone calls it a "combine".
replies(2): >>46236350 #>>46236374 #
2. ◴[] No.46236350[source]
3. 9rx ◴[] No.46236374[source]
Technically it is "combine". Originally it was known as a "combined harvester-thresher", which is maybe what you're thinking of, but that was soon shortened to "combine" and it has stuck ever since.

"Combine harvester" showed up in some places later where context was needed to figure out what "combine" means, but it was seemingly only for context. "Combined harvester-thresher harvester" is pointlessly redundant.